Greeley, CO Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Chickens/rabbits, H-A zone
- Up to 20 per acre
- Chickens/rabbits, other zones
- Up to 10 per acre
- Max animal units, H-A
- 2.0 per acre
- Max animal units, other zones
- 1.0 per acre
- Governing section
- § 24-403.c, Table 24-4-3
Summary
Greeley caps backyard chickens and other livestock with a per-acre animal-unit formula in Sec. 24-403.c: up to 20 chickens or rabbits per acre in the H-A district, ten per acre elsewhere, and a hard cap on total animal units per acre.
The limitations in table 24-4-3: Animal unit equivalency chart shall apply to the keeping of livestock as an accessory use to farming, residential uses, or any other use involving livestock. This chart shall not be used in a cumulative fashion. For example, in the H-A zone, there is a maximum of two animal units permitted per acre. These animal units may be derived from a combination of animals, but in no event shall it exceed the maximum of two animal units per acre. Table 24-4-3: Animal Unit Equivalency Chart Animal Species Max Animals Per Acre (by species) Animal Unit Equivalent H-A Zone Other Zone Slaughter, feed & dairy cattle, bison, elk, llamas, horses, mules, burros, yaks, alpacas 2 1 1.0
Swine, butcher & breeding — over 55 lbs. 4 4 0.5 Sheep, lamb, goats 4 4 0.5 Turkeys 10 5 0.2 Chickens, broiler & layer; rabbits 20 10 0.1
Total Cumulative Animal Units Allowed Per Acre (combined species) H-A district 2.0 Other zones 1.0
• Young stock, less than 50% of adult weight, reduces the above equivalency factor by one-half).
• "Per acre" refers to areas specifically devoted for animal use.)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 6 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Table 24-4-3 in Sec. 24-403.c sets a per-acre 'animal unit' cap for keeping livestock as an accessory use to farming or a residence, and the chart cannot be used cumulatively across species beyond the district total. Chickens (broiler and layer) and rabbits count as 0.1 animal unit each, with a maximum of 20 per acre in the H-A (Holding-Agriculture) district and ten per acre in other zones. Larger stock is capped further: cattle, horses, llamas and similar animals are limited to two per acre in H-A at 1.0 animal unit each, while swine, sheep and goats over 55 pounds are limited to four per acre at 0.5 animal units each. The combined total cannot exceed 2.0 animal units per acre in H-A or 1.0 in other zones.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the per-acre animal-unit cap, or keeping species and counts outside Table 24-4-3, is a zoning violation subject to the enforcement process in Chapter 3 of Title 24.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in Greeley?
Are the animal limits combined across species?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greeley
How Greeley compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Greeley to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
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